This was a really good process to go through, consolidating ideas, thoughts and realities. Is an orchard good use of our space? We had loads of functions, but I chose to concentrate on the four key priorities. If in future years our climate changes and an orchard of vineyard is possible, we can change! The key functions I concentrated on were:

• To produce some of our own food with a view to selling surplus or expanding in future – grow interesting things
• To produce some of  our own fuel (but not at the cost of grazing space
• To encourage/support wildlife
• To improve soil and drainage
• Get the kids involved / Family social space

Food Production

Element/System	Input	Yield
Annual Vegetable Plot	Seeds, Compost, mulch, time, tools, space, knowledge, water, beneficial insects, pest control, sunlight, weed control, materials, fertilisers	Food, compost, time outside, income, quick return, child involvement
Poly Tunnel/Greenhouse	Seeds, plants, compost, mulch, water, pest control, fertilisers, materials, time, sunlight, wind shelter	Food, compost, time outside, heat, extended season, income, quick return, child involvement
Fruit bushes/trees	plants, compost, mulch, water, pest control, fertilisers, materials, time, sunlight, wind shelter, netting, membrane, beneficial insects	Food, compost, time outside, year round interest, income, child involvement, beauty, absorb water, soil stabilisation
Livestock (Sheep & Pigs (girls want goats?)	Shelter, food, forage, company, space, water, time, maintenance, medication, electric fencing	Meat, wool, manure, child involvement, fun, income stream, heat
Fowl (Chickens & Ducks)	Shelter, food, forage, grit, company, medication, time, fox protection	Meat, eggs, amusement, slug/pest control, child involvement, feathers, compost, weeding, noise, heat, income stream

Produce Firewood

Element/System	Input	Yield
Established Woodland (High Tree & coppice(able)	Knowledge, tools, access, log storage, sunlight, water,	Firewood, mulch, bio-diversity, extracts water, garden materials, wind protection, year round interest, beauty, leaves, livestock protection
New planted coppice / Pollard	Willow whips, hazel trees, space, tools, time, mulch, water, log storage, access, sunlight, animal protection	Firewood, soil stabilisation, mulch, bio-diversity, extracts water, garden/craft materials, income stream, fodder, windbreak
Specimen Trees	Trees, mulch, water, materials, time, sunlight, wind shelter, animal protection	Firewood, animal shelter, water extraction, bio-diversity, soil stabilisation, beauty, year round interest

Encourage/Support Wildlife

Element/System	Input	Yield
Pond	Labour, Equipment, Water, Plants, Pipework, Maintenance, Space, cow fencing	Water, Mulch, Compost, Habitat, Bio-diversity, Pest Control, Cleans water, animal feed, attracts/feeds birds, Interest, Beauty, Makes use of waterlogged area
Insect/Pollinator habitat	Plants, Seeds, Bug Hotels, Wild areas, Stone Walls, Manure, Compost, space, sunlight, trees, native plants, water, grassland	Beneficial insects, pest control, improved yields, bio-diversity
Wild areas	Space, hedges, trees, grass, logs	Beneficial insects, bio-diversity, windbreak, protection, wood/fuel

Improve soil and drainage

Element/System	Input	Yield
Trees	Labour, Equipment, Water, Trees, Animal protection, Sunlight	Water Absorption, Deep roots permeate soil, leaf litter builds soil, firewood, interest, livestock protection, attracts wildlife
Pond	Labour, Equipment, Water, Plants, Pipework, Maintenance, Space, cow fencing	Water, Mulch, Compost, Habitat, Bio-diversity, Pest Control, Cleans water, animal feed, attracts/feeds birds, Interest, Beauty, Makes use of waterlogged area
Green Manures (not in pasture)	Time, sunlight, seeds, labour	Builds soil, gasses & minerals, roots knit weak soil, bio diversity, suppresses weeds
Livestock (Mob grazing)	Animals, shelter, protection, water, feed, medication, electric fencing	Meat, wool, manure, child involvement, fun, income stream, heat
Bio Fertilisers	Containers, space for storage, equipment, materials/ingredients, kitchen waste	Nutrients, minerals, increased cropping, stronger roots, fungi
Swales	Labour, machinery, space	Controlled water flow, planting space (edge)

Family /Social Space

Element/System	Input	Yield
Dog run	Fencing, space, access, close to house, labour	Happy dog, healthy dog, child interaction, peace of mind
Entertainment area	Shelter, heat, furniture, views, plants, access, scent	Enjoyment of our achievements, outdoor living (for those rare balmy evenings), aesthetics
Dens / Inventing area	Tools, space, shelter, access, seclusion, safe	Happy kids, Healthy kids, skills, independence, pride, fun, social space
Attractive to look at	Stone walls, plants, flowers, views, trees	Aesthetics, food, compost, time outside, year round interest, income, child involvement, beauty, absorb water, soil stabilisation, bio-diversity
Animals	Animals, shelter, protection, water, feed, medication, electric fencing	Meat, wool, manure, child involvement, fun, income stream, heat

Next step, The Grand Plan…